Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee
The Committee was established in June 2021. It focuses on:
- scrutinising the Scottish Government’s policies and progress towards meeting climate change targets across all government departments
- transport
- energy
- net zero and circular economy
- most environmental policy
Next meeting of the committee
Start time:
8:30am, Tuesday 24 February 2026
Location: T4.40-CR2 The Fairfax Somerville Room
Agenda:
- Decision on taking business in private
- Draft Climate Change Plan (in private)
- The Railways Bill (UK Parliament legislation)
Dates for future meetings
The Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee usually meets weekly on Tuesdays.
Previous meetings of the committee
Work of the Committee
Current work
Advisers
Carbon budgets
Climate Change People's Panel
Climate Change Plan
Ecocide (Scotland) Bill
Ferry services in Scotland
Land Reform (Scotland) Bill
Legislative Consent Memorandum on Planning and Infrastructure Bill
Legislative Consent Memorandum on Sustainable Aviation Fuel Bill
Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Bill
National Bus Travel Concession Schemes (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) Order 2026
Natural Capital Finance
Post-Brexit environmental regulation and governance
Scotland's Deposit Return Scheme
Transport in Scotland 2025
Completed work
A modern and sustainable ferry service for Scotland
Air quality in Scotland
Budget 2025 to 2026
Budget scrutiny 2023-24
Budget scrutiny 2024-25
Carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS)
Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill
Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Bill
Energy price rises
Environmental Authorisations (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2025
Fourth draft National Planning Framework (NPF4)
Fuel poverty strategy
Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Great British Energy Bill
Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill
Legislative consent memorandum on the Automated Vehicles Bill
Legislative consent memorandum on the Energy Bill
Legislative consent memorandum on the Environment Bill
Legislative consent memorandum on the High Speed Rail (Crewe - Manchester) Bill
Legislative consent memorandum on the Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill
P&O Ferries
PE1750 Independent Monitoring of Satellite tags fitted to raptors
PE1815 Translocate protected beavers to reduce licensed killing
PE1866 Introduce legislation to improve bus travel for wheelchair users
PE1872 Improve the reliability of island ferry services
PE2123 Petition on Air Quality
Pre-legislative scrutiny: approach to setting emissions reduction targets
Scotland's electricity infrastructure: inhibitor or enabler of our energy ambitions?
Scottish Biodiversity Strategy
Scottish Land Commission 2023
Scottish Land Commission 2024
The Environmental Protection (Single-use Vapes) (Scotland) Regulations 2024
The role of local government and its cross-sectoral partners in financing and delivering a net-zero Scotland
Transfer of operation of ScotRail
Future work
Future business
The Committee considers its work programme regularly to maintain a rolling programme of business. The Committee's main business over the coming months will include:
The Scottish Government laid a draft Climate Change Plan on 6 November 2025.
This follows the Scottish Parliament’s approval of regulations which set five-year carbon budgets - limits on the amount of greenhouse gas which can legally be emitted over a given time. The CCP seeks to meet the reduction targets set out in the regulations for the period 2026-2040.
Scottish Parliament committees now have 120 days (until 5 March) to scrutinise and report on the aspects of the Plan which fall under their remit.
Find out more about the Committee’s scrutiny of the Climate Change Plan and the Call for Views in our animation.
The Committee is currently undertaking scrutiny of the Bill at Stage 1 (consideration of the general principles).
Legislative Consent Memorandum on the UK Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Bill
Other business
The Committee expects to use remaining meeting time before dissolution in March 2026 to scrutinise current issues relating to transport, energy, the circular economy, and environmental protection and regulation. Where possible, it will also continue to have annual “check-in” evidence sessions with autonomous public bodies with regulatory roles in these areas. (Check the Committee’s “current business” tabs for more information on all areas where the Committee maintains a watching brief.) There’s also a possibility of other Legislative Consent Memorandums, or supplementary LCMs, on UK Bills being referred to the Committee in the coming months.
Correspondence
Correspondence
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee
Scotrail Trains Limited - Minimum Fares Policy Introduction
20 February 2026
Letter from Cabinet Secretary for Transport, 20 February 2026
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee
Follow up to 10 February budget evidence session
19 February 2026
Letter from Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy, 19 February 2026
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee
Rail and Road (ORR) - Annual Report and Accounts
19 February 2026
Letter from Cabinet Secretary for Transport to Presiding Officer (copied to Committee for information), 19 February 2026
Official Reports of meetings
Official Reports of meetings
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee
Meeting date: Tuesday, February 17, 2026
Decision on Taking Business in Private, NatureScot (Annual Report and Accounts and Future Priorities), Subordinate Legislation
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee
Meeting date: Tuesday, February 10, 2026
Decision on Taking Business in Private, Subordinate Legislation, Draft Climate Change Plan, Budget Scrutiny 2026-27
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee
Meeting date: Tuesday, February 3, 2026
Decision on Taking Business in Private, Draft Climate Change Plan, Budget Scrutiny 2026-27, Subordinate Legislation
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee
Meeting date: Tuesday, January 27, 2026
Decision on Taking Business in Private, Subordinate Legislation, Draft Climate Change Plan
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee
Meeting date: Tuesday, January 20, 2026
Decision on Taking Business in Private, Subordinate Legislation, Draft Climate Change Plan
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee
Meeting date: Tuesday, January 6, 2026
Decisions on Taking Business in Private, Draft Climate Change Plan
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee
Meeting date: Tuesday, December 16, 2025
Decision on Taking Business in Private, Draft Climate Change Plan
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee
Meeting date: Tuesday, December 9, 2025
Decision on Taking Business in Private, Subordinate Legislation, Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Bill, Ecocide (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee
Meeting date: Tuesday, December 2, 2025
Decisions on Taking Business in Private, Ecocide (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee
Meeting date: Tuesday, November 25, 2025
Decision on Taking Business in Private, Draft Climate Change Plan, Subordinate Legislation
Reports
Committee reports
Published: 23 February 2026
A report by the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee on an affirmative instrument relating to concessionary bus travel.
Published: 18 February 2026
A report by the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee on an affirmative instrument relating to digital waste tracking.
Published: 11 February 2026
A report by the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee on an affirmative instrument relating to the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme.
Committee Remit
To consider and report on matters falling within the responsibility of the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy, with the exception of matters relating to just transition; and on matters relating to land reform, natural resources and peatland, Scottish Land Commission, Crown Estate Scotland and Royal Botanic Garden within the responsibility of the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands.
Current Members
Edward Mountain
Convener
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Michael Matheson
Deputy Convener
Scottish National Party
Bob Doris
Member
Scottish National Party
Monica Lennon
Member
Scottish Labour
Douglas Lumsden
Member
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Mark Ruskell
Member
Scottish Green Party
Kevin Stewart
Member
Scottish National Party
Full details of committee membership, including substitute and previous members